Reconciliation Update

The next votes today will be:

Casey Motion to Commit on Protecting People With Disabilities

Motion to commit to ensure individuals with disabilities do not lose access to affordable coverage or any of the benefits they currently receive though Medicaid or the health insurance market.

Heller Sense of the Senate

This amendment is a Sense of the Senate that the committees of jurisdiction should review legislation to ensure that states do not cut Medicaid services for individuals who are currently covered through Medicaid, including people with disabilities. It also proposes that the bills produced by the committees should not shift costs on to the states. The Sense of the Senate goes on to argue Obamacare should be repealed, citing a widely discredited study by the Trump administration that premiums have doubled over the last four years. Finally, it states that the committees should review legislation that would provide access to quality, affordable coverage in the commercial insurance market and strengthen Medicaid.

We will be tracking amendments introduced during the health care reconciliation process at: http://email.capitolenews.com/q/syeWbB1hxYlsfO1gIJcKs8hbCjCRivDepQtfDYcwc6GDPUSFFDBl4nKUMWw.

First up today will be the Paul Amendment #271: Obamacare Repeal Reconciliation Act of 2017

This amendment is largely based on the 2015 Reconciliation Bill to repeal the ACA that President Obama vetoed, plus restrictions that prevent plans that include abortion coverage from being offered on the individual and small business exchanges and an attempt to change the "defund Planned Parenthood" language to avoid the Parliamentarian's ruling. It would repeal the individual and employer mandates, the ACA's Medicaid expansion, and the individual market premium tax credits within two years. It includes the tax cuts for wealthy individuals that were previously removed from the BCRA bill. This would leave 32 million more Americans uninsured, increase premiums by 25 percent by next year and give roughly $300 billion in tax cuts to the top 2 percent and about $200 billion in tax cuts to the health industry. Democrats will challenge multiple provisions under the Byrd Rule.

Let me know if you have any questions as we proceed.

Josh Miller-Lewis

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

O: 202-228-6491